Chapter 22
1012words
'No. I have a plan. Two can play this game.' A sly smile crept upon her face.
'Halley, what are you up to?'
'Just watch and learn from the master,' she giggled like a child.
Halley washed her face over the sink and headed upstairs and knocked on Mr. Hollen's master bedroom door. Sharon opened it.
'I'm so sorry for what I said in the kitchen. I was out of line. Can we put this behind us?' Halley asked.
What the hell? What was she doing?
'You're forgiven Halley,' Sharon smiled in satisfaction.
Halley smiled back and descended the stairs and I pulled her into a living room. 'Halley. What was--?'
'Shh. Lesson number one, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.'
__________
The next morning , Sharon was making coffee for Mr. Hollen. She had taken over that duty from me. Halley and I walked in the kitchen and saw her with two cups of coffee in her hands.
Halley purposely pushed past her a bit too hard, knocking over one of the cups. 'Oh my goodness, Mrs. Hollen, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to.'
'Halley, you just knocked over Ethan's coffee. I can't remake this.'
'Well Emma can do it while I clean this up.'
'Okay, whatever,' she said without thinking twice then left.
'Now you can make him a cup of coffee,' she said as she grabbed a broom to clean up the spill and broken tea cup.
I smiled as I went over to the coffee machine. I missed making coffee for him so much.
'Thanks Halley,' I mouthed as I informed him that his coffee was ready.
He told me he'd be down for it shortly. I got so jolly on the inside; I hadn't seen him in a while. He had been working late hours at the office and when he got home I was usually asleep. He came in with a vest and a baggy shorts. He looked so sexy in the morning. Halley left just as he came in.
'Good morning, Emma.'
'Good morning, Mr. Hollen. Here's your coffee.'
He sipped it immediately. 'I miss your coffee so much.'
I blushed.
'There's something I need to tell you,' he said and my heart skipped a beat. 'I'm glad I hired you.'
'I'm glad too.'
'Also, my company is hosting a summer auction in Miami next weekend.'
'That's great. We'll be safe this time around, Mr. Hollen. You won't have to worry.'
'I know I won't have to worry because the two of you are coming along with me.'
'Sir, but Sharon... She wouldn't be--'
He didn't let me finish. 'Sharon won't be attending. She will be out of the country to attend a fashion show.'
I was relieved. Oh my gosh. Me, Halley and Mr. Hollen in Miami! What is in store for me?
Emma's POV
The Miami weekend was just one day away. Halley and I decided to take our half day together to do a quick shopping before leaving. Luis drove us to the mall where we bought clothing, including a formal dress to wear to the auction fundraiser event, and Halley insisted on getting our hair done.
When we got home late that afternoon we packed. I was extremely excited to be going on this trip with the two people I was getting accustomed to. I had never been on a trip before. I had never even stepped foot out of New York, so going to Miami was like a dream come true. I was overjoyed!
I went to the chambers when I was through packing and sat on Halley's bed. I watched her scan the room, putting things she thought she'd need in Miami.
'My toothbrush, dress, hairdryer...' she went on, moving like she was trying to prevent herself from forgetting something important.
I laughed just watching at her. It wasn't her first time in Miami; it was just her first time going along with Mr. Hollen. When she was finished, we headed to the kitchen as she described her first time on a trip to Miami with her friends.
It was about 7:00 pm when Mr. Hollen got home. He checked on us in the kitchen and, I must say, it had been a relief to have Sharon gone to Italy for a fashion show she had to host there. She had been gone since Tuesday and wouldn't return until the next weekend.
'I've arranged everything for us, including the house,' said Mr. Hollen.
'We're not staying at a hotel?' Halley asked, surprised.
She was always bolder to ask straight forward questions than I was. I had to work on that.
'Why stay at a hotel when I've got a lovely beach house there?' he asked, raising an eyebrow with a smirk on his lips.
She gasped in surprise. 'Oh my gosh! I have to get my swimsuit!' she shouted in glee as she ran out of the kitchen.
Mr. Hollen laughed then turned to me and took my hands into his. 'You're awfully quiet; you're not excited?'
'Yes I am, sir,' I said shyly.
'Why don't you call me Ethan when we're alone,' he kindly insisted.
'Um, sir, that wouldn't sound right.'
He let out a frustrated sigh.
'Oh, um, I cooked dinner for you.' I felt I sounded awkward, but I'd taken the liberty of cooking him a meal when Halley and I came back from shopping-- a chicken soup.
'Okay. I'll go shower and change then come back for my dinner,' he said, getting up from the table. 'Oh, don't forget to pack your swimsuit too,' he added as he left.
My face fell. I didn't own a swimsuit or a bikini and forgot to get one at the mall earlier.
'You do have one right?' Halley asked as she came back, having overheard Mr. Hollen's statement about the swimsuit.
'No,' I answered quietly.
'Okay. It's late now, so we'll get you one when we reach there.' She lit up and did little jumps like a kid. 'Emma, we're going to Miami.'
